Carbon-Rich Self-Healing Multifunctional Nanostructured Smart Coatings (NSC) for High-Tech Applications Using High-Power Confined Plasma Technology for their Deposition

1. Leitans A., Jansons E., Lungevics J., Kundzins K., Boiko I., Kanders U., Kovalenko V., Linins O.  Tribological and micromechanical properties of the nanostructured superlattice coatings deposited by advanced PVD technique. Journal Coatings, special issue «Coatings and Surface Modification for Tribological Applications», 2023, 13(1), doi.org/10.3390/coatings13030552 – OPEN ACCESS, indexed in SCOPUS, Q2 SJR

2. Jansons E., Lungevics J., Kanders U., Leitans A., Civcisa G., Linins O., Kundzins K., Boiko I. Tribological and Mechanical Properties of the Nanostructured Superlattice Coatings with Respect to Surface Texture. Journal Lubricants, 2022, 10(11), 285 – OPEN ACCESS, indexed in SCOPUS, Q1 SJR

3. Leitāns, A. Liniņš, O. Sphere and Random Flat Surface Contact. Latvian Journal of Physics and Technical Sciences (https://sciendo.com/journal/LPTS), 2022, Volume 59, Issue 5 (October 2022), pp.15-20, eISSN 2255-8896 – OPEN ACCESS, indexed in SCOPUS, Q3 SJR

4. Leitāns, A., Lungevičs, J. Boiko, I., Kanders, U. Micromechanical and Tribological Properties of Nanostructured Carbonitride Coatings Deposited by PVD Technique. Journal Key Engineering Materials, 2021, Volume 903, pp. 177-182, ISSN 1662-9795 – indexed in SCOPUS, Q4 SJR

5. Kanders, U., Lungevičs, J., Leitāns, A., Boiko, I., Bērziņš, K., Trubiņa, Z. Nanostructured TiAlSi-CN:Me/a-CN:Si3N4 Composite Coatings Deposited by Advanced PVD Technique. Journal Solid State Phenomena, 2021, Vol. 320, pp. 37-42, ISSN 1662-9779, doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/SSP.320.37 – indexed in SCOPUS, Q3 SJR

6. Liniņš, O., Boiko, I., Leitāns, A., Lungevičs, J. Assessment of Surface Parameters of Machine Parts. In: Proceedings of the 19th International Scientific Conference "Engineering for Rural Development": Proceedings. Vol.19, May 20-22, 2020. Jelgava, Latvia: Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, pp. 1818-1822, ISSN 1691-3043, doi:10.22616/ERDev2020.19.TF488 – OPEN ACCESS, indexed in SCOPUS

01.10.2022.–31.12.2022.

The final period of the project has been particularly productive.

• The scientific paper titled «TRIBOLOGICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE NANOSTRUCTURED SUPERLATTICE COATINGS WITH RESPECT TO SURFACE TEXTURE» (E. Jansons, J. Lungevics, U. Kanders, A. Leitans, G. Civcisa, O. Linins, K. Kundzins, and I. Boiko) prepared and published in the scientific journal «Lubricants» (Lubricants 2022, 10, 285). This journal has one of the higher impact factor in the area Surface, Coatings and Films (Q1 according to Scimago Journal & Country Rank):

• The Project’s members took part in the 63rd International Scientific Conference of Riga Technical University (Session «Mechanical Engineering Technology and Heat Engineering»). The Session was held on the 13th of October, 2022, Online: via ZOOM. The researcher Kārlis Kundziņš presented the presentation titled «Nanostructured smart coatings obtained by the High Power Magnetically Compressed plasma method» (I. Boiko, U. Kanders, K. Kundziņš, A. Leitāns, J. Lungevičs, E. Jansons, O. Liniņš) about last achievements in the frame of Project.

Also, the abstract is prepared. The Book of Abstracts of the Session «Mechanical Engineering Technology and Heat Engineering» of the 63rd International Scientific Conference of Riga Technical University will be ready published and available on the RTU e-books platform at the beginning of 2023.

• The scientific paper titled «SPHERE AND RANDOM FLAT SURFACE CONTACT» (A. Leitāns, O. Liniņš) is published in the scientific journal «Latvian Journal of Physics and Technical Sciences» (Volume 59 (2022) - Issue 5 (October 2022)). This journal is one of the best Latvian Open Access journals (Q3 according to Scimago Journal & Country Rank).

• And there is more - from the Organizers of the international scientific conference BALTTRIB’2022 the invitation to publish the scientific paper titled  «TRIBOLOGICAL AND MICROMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE NANOSTRUCTURED SUPERLATTICE COATINGS DEPOSITED BY ADVANCED PVD TECHNIQUE» (A. Leitans, E. Jansons, J. Lungevics, K. Kundzins, I. Boiko, U. Kanders, V. Kovalenko, O. Linins) in one of the best journals «Coatings», special issue «Coatings and Surface Modification for Tribological Applications»). Journal «Coatings» ranks Q2 according to Scimago Journal & Country Rank. The deadline for submitting the final version of the paper (specially formatted according to «Coatings» rules) is 31.12.2022.

31st of December, 2022, is the last day for executing the Project!

The Scientific group of the Project would like to thank all the RTU colleagues and colleagues from other scientific institutions and production for their collaboration and support in the Project’s activities!
 

01.07.2022.–30.09.2022.

• The members of the Project’ scientific group (A.Leitāns and K.Kundziņš) took part in the international scientific conference BALTTRIB2022, held in Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas Lithuania with the presentation «TRIBOLOGICAL AND MICROMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE NANOSTRUCTURED SUPERLATTICE COATINGS DEPOSITED BY ADVANCED PVD TECHNIQUE» (A. Leitans, E. Jansons, J. Lungevics, K. Kundzins, I. Boiko, U. Kanders, V. Kovalenko, O. Linins).

On the left of the picture, there are the members of the Project’s scientific group: researcher Kārlis Kundziņš, researcher Armands Leitāns, leader of the Project/Professor Irīna Boiko, scientific assistant Zane Trubiņa and Professor Dr. Juozas Padgurskas (Board chairman of the Lithuanian Scientific Society Department «Tribologija» Chairman of BALTTRIB’2022 Organising committee).

Additionally, the leader of the Project, Professor Irīna Boiko and colleagues participated in the networking activities.
Also, scientific assistant Zane Trubiņa participated in the staff training activities (during a visit to the laboratories of the Vytautas Magnus University):

• The preparation of the scientific paper titled «Tribological and Mechanical Properties of the Nanostructured Superlattice Coatings with Respect to Surface Texture» (E. Jansons, J. Lungevics, U. Kanders, A. Leitans, G. Civcisa, O. Linins, K. Kundzins, and I. Boiko) for the publishing in the scientific journal «Lubricants» has been starting. This is an international Open Access journal highly ranked worldwide («Lubricants is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal of tribology. Lubricants is published monthly online by MDPI. ... Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Engineering, Mechanical) / CiteScore - Q2 (Mechanical Engineering)»). The publication is planned till the end of the 2022.

•  

  The Project’s scientific group members will participate in the RTU 63rd international scientific conference (session «Mechanical Engineering Technology and Heat Engineering»). The presentation titled «Nanostructured smart coatings obtained by the High Power Magnetically Compressed plasma method» is planned and is under elaboration. 

01.04.2022–30.06.2022

• During International Trade Fair for mechanical engineering, metalworking, automation, electronics, electrical engineering, industrial supplies, tools and innovated technology «Tech Industry 2022» , which took place in the exhibition center Ķīpsala from 19.05.2022 until 21.05.2022, an information sheet was distributed to Fair «Tech Industry 2022» visitors. The information sheet contains information about the Project, support of the Latvian Council of Science for the implementation of research, as well as about the practical significance of the achieved project results, which allows gaining the quality of the machine parts, as well as increase the service life. The scientific team of the LSC project thanks the colleagues of MASOC (The Association of Mechanical Engineering and Metalworking Industries of Latvia), who promoted the distribution of the information sheet on the MASOC stand, as well as networking/contacts with the visitors of the Fair.

• The patent application LVP2022000037 (MULTIFUNCTIONAL EQUIPMENT AND METHOD FOR ASSESSING THE TRIBOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS AND COATINGS) is applied the Patent Office of the Republic of Latvia on 29th of April, 2022. The applicant is Riga Technical University; authors: E.Jansons, J.Lungevičs, A.Leitāns, I.Boiko. On 09.06.2022. the Notice from The Patent Office is received, which confirms that the patent application LVP2022000037 complies with the formal demands. The patent application will be published on 20.11.2023. The Expertise on essence will begin after the patent application is published. Additionally, the request for the EPO patent search was made and approved – now, the authors are translating the patent application into English (the deadline is 18.08.2022).
• The preparation of several scientific publications, including for participation in the International Conference BALTTRIB2022, and publications in international scientific journals, were executed. All publications will be prepared and submitted by the end of 2022.

01.01.2022–31.03.2022

• During International Education Fair SKOLA-2022, which took place in the exhibition center Ķīpsala from 11.03.2022 until 13.03.2022, on the information stand of the Riga Technical University, an information leaflet was distributed to Fair SKOLA-2022 visitors. The information leaflet contains information about the Project, support of the Latvian Council of Science for the implementation of research, as well as about the opportunities for students to get involved in the implementation of scientific projects. 

• Project participants prepared and submitted to RTU Innovation and Technology Transfer Center the patent application’ draft for preparation and submission of the patent application to the Patent Office of the Republic of Latvia under the guidance of the RTU IP specialist. The filing of the patent application is planned until 30.04.2022. 
• A publicity video has been prepared on the progress of the project, which is available on both the RTU FMETA website and the RTU YouTube channel. The purpose of the publicity video material is to inform the general public about the project, the support of Latvian Council of Science (LCS), the involvement of students and junior scientists in research, as well as to thank colleagues from different RTU structural units for participating in the testing of coated samples.

01.10.2021.–31.12.2021.

• Scientific paper «Micromechanical And Tribological Properties Of Nanostructured Carbonitride Coatings Deposited By Pvd Technique» (A. Leitans,  J. Lungevics U. Kanders, I. Boiko) Volume 903, pp. 177-182, ISSN 1662-9795; Trans Tech Puublications Ltd, Switzerland has been published in journal Key Engineering Materials.
• The Project's team members participated in the 62nd RTU International Scientific Conference, session «Mechanical Engineering Technology and Heat Engineering» with several reports, and information about the achieved and planned results in course of the Project. Session was organized remotely in the ZOOM platform at 15th of October, 2021.

• The results of the Project as well as their significance for the industry and scientific novelty was reported on 28th of October, 2021 within the research projects’ presentations event «Science, innovations, and technologies for the development of Latvian economics – a real contribution to the economy?» organized by Latvian Council of Science.

Presentation made by researcher Jānis Lungevičs (in Latvian) you can see here.

• Paper «Sphere And Random Flat Surface Contact» (O.Liniņš, A.Leitāns) is going to be published in the Latvian Journal of Physics and Technical Sciences (De Gruyter Open Ltd.) since it successfully had gone through the review process.

01.07.2021–30.09.2021

• Confirmation has been received from the editorial board of scientific journal Key Engineering Materials (Trans Tech Publications Ltd, Switzerland) that the paper «Micromechanical And Tribological Properties Of Nanostructured Carbonitride Coatings Deposited By Pvd Technique» (A. Leitans,  J. Lungevics U. Kanders, I. Boiko) will be published on 10.11.2021.
• Participation is planned with a number of reports in the session «Mechanical Engineering Technology and Heat Engineering» of the RTU 62 International Scientific Conference in order to inform on the achieved results.

The following reports are planned:
•    «Deposition of the Nanostructured Superlattice Coatings by Advanced PVD Technique» (U. Kanders, I. Boiko, A. Leitāns, J. Lungevičs, E. Jansons);
•    «Investigation of the Nanostructured Superlattice Coatings Deposited by Advanced PVD Technique Using SEM and Indentation Methods» (U. Kanders, I. Boiko, K. Kundziņš, A. Leitāns, J. Lungevičs, E. Jansons, I. Jerāne);
•    «Tribological Properties of the Nanostructured Superlattice Coatings Deposited by Advanced PVD Technique» (A. Leitāns, O. Liniņš);
•    «Methodology for Measuring and Evaluating of Coating Characteristics» (E. Jansons, J. Lungevičs, I. Boiko, A. Leitāns, G. Čivčiša).

Abstracts are currently being prepared for this conference.

• International Scientific Conference  «BALTTRIB», Kaunas, LITHUANIA has been moved to 2022. The organisers of the conference confirmed that all applications submitted in 2021 will be accepted for the 2022 conference, with the result that participation in this conference has been transferred to the following year.

01.04.2021–30.06.2021

• Scientific paper «Nanostructured Tialsi-Cn:Me/A-Cn:Si3n4 Composite Coatings Deposited By Advanced Pvd Technique Assessment Of Surface Parameters Of The Machine Parts» (U.Kanders, J.Lungevics, A.Leitans, I.Boiko, K.Berzins and Z.Trubina), Volume 320, pp. 37-42, ISSN 1662-9779; Trans Tech Puublications Ltd, Switzerland has been published in journal Solid State Phenomena.
• Paper «Sphere and Random Flat Surface Contact» (A.Leitāns, O.Liniņš) is submitted to Latvian Journal of Physics and Technical Sciences (De Gruyter Open Ltd.). It is currently under peer-review.
• A publicity video has been prepared on the progress of the project, which is available on both the RTU FMETA website and the RTU YouTube channel. The purpose of the publicity video material is to inform the general public about the project, the support of LCS, the involvement of students and junior scientists in research.

Project's team are getting ready to participate in International Scientific Conference «BALTTRIB 2021» 18.–20.11.2021, Kaunas, LITHUANIA. The conference is being organised by: 

• Lithuanian Scientific Society Department «Tribologija» 
• Vytautas Magnus University 
• International Tribology Council 

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• An abstract has been prepared and submitted «Tribological and Micromechanical Properties of The Nanostructured Superlattice Coatings Deposited by Advanced PVD Technique» (A.Leitans, J.Lungevics, K.Kundzins, P.Nazarovs, V.Kovalenko, I.Boiko, U.Kanders).

01.01.2021–31.03.2021

• Scientific paper «Nanostructured Tialsi-Cn:Me/A-Cn:Si3n4 Composite Coatings Deposited By Advanced Pvd Technique Assessment Of Surface Parameters Of The Machine Parts» (U. Kanders, J. Lungevics, A. Leitans, I. Boiko, K. Berzins and Z. Trubina), Volume 320, pp. 37-42, ISSN 1662-9779; Trans Tech Puublications Ltd, Switzerland, abstracted and indexed: Scopus, Reaxys, Ei Compendex, Inspec (IET, Institution of Engineering Technology), Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS), Google Scholar, Cambridge Scientific Abstracts, ProQuest, Ulrichsweb, EBSCOhost Research Databases, Zetoc, EVISA, Index Copernicus Journals Master List un WorldCat (OCLC) has been accepted for publiction in journal Solid State Phenomena. Corresponding volume (Volume 320) will be available on 30.06.2021.

• Scientific paper «Sphere And Random Flat Surface Contact» (A. Leitāns, O. Liniņš) was prepared within project work pack WP3 «Coating Wear Express Calculation» (leader. prof. O. Liniņš)  for publication in «Latvian Journal of Physics and Technical Sciences» (De Gruyter Open Ltd.). The scientific publication is devoted to the calculation of the field of contact of a smooth sphere and rough plane using the mathematical model of the calculation of the two-plane contact. As a result, a mathematical model for the calculation of the contact area for the case of a ball and plane under certain conditions is proposed. The results of the study will continue to be used for the development of a new methodology for measuring, selecting and evaluating the characteristics of dilated-resistant nanostructured coatings using the texture parameters of the 3D surface.

• A publicity video is being prepared on the progress of the project, which will be available on both the RTU FMETA website and the RTU YouTube channel. The purpose of the publicity video material is to inform the general public about the project, the support of LCS, the involvement of students and junior scientists in research.

01.10.2020–31.12.2020

• Project's team members participated in the 28th International Scientific Conference «Materials Engineering and Modern Manufacturing 2020» 22.-23.10.2020., Kaunas, LITHUANIA. 23.10.2020. Project team member, researcher Dr. Uldis Kanders reported on «Nanostructured TiAlSi-CN:Me/a-CN:Si3N4 Composite Coatings Deposited by Advanced PVD Technique» (U. Kanders, J.Lungevics, A. Leitans, I. Boiko, K. Berzins and Z. Trubina). Head of the project Dr. Irīna Boiko also participated.

• Project's researcher Armands Leitāns on 23.10.2020 particpated in Scientific Conference «Materials Science and Applied Chemistry» MSAC 2020 with the poster «Micromechanical and tribological properties of nanostructured carbonitride coatings deposited by PVD technique» (A. Leitāns, J. Lungevičs, I. Boiko, U. Kanders).

• Project's team members participated in the 61st RTU International Scientific Conference, session «Mechanical Engineering Technology and Heat Engineering». Head of the project Dr. Irīna Boiko presented report «Recent Development of the Carbon-Rich Nanostructured Smart Coatings and Their Characterization» (I. Boiko, U. Kanders, A. Leitāns, J. Lungevičs, O. Liniņš, G. Čivčiša and Z. Trubiņa).

Program and annotation collection of RTU 61st RTU International Scientific Conference is published by RTU Press.

01.07.2020–30.09.2020

• Project's team members prepared to participate in the 28th International Scientific Conference «Materials Engineering and Modern Manufacturing 2020» 22.–23.10.2020, Kaunas, LITHUANIA. Scientific paper «Nanostructured TiAlSi-CN:Me/a-CN:Si3N4 Composite Coatings Deposited by Advanced PVD Technique» (U.Kanders, J.Lungevics, A.Leitans, I.Boiko, K.Berzins and Z.Trubina) has been accepted for publication in the journal «Key Engineering Materials».
• Project's team members applied for participation in online conference «Materials Science and Applied Chemistry» MSAC 2020, organized by RTU Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, that will take place on October 23, 2020. The paper «Micromechanical and tribological properties of nanostructured carbonitride coatings deposited by PVD technique» (A.Leitāns, J.Lungevičs, I.Boiko, U.Kanders) and report is now being prepared.
• Project's team members prepare to participate in the 61st RTU International Scientific Conference, session «Mechanical Engineering Technology and Heat Engineering», to inform on project's aim, tasks and intermediate results, by presenting the report «Recent Development of the Carbon-Rich Nanostructured Smart Coatings and Their Characterization» (I. Boiko, U. Kanders, A. Leitāns, J. Lungevičs, O. Liniņš, G. Čivčiša and Z. Trubiņa). The abstract will be published in Abstract collection.

01.04.2020–30.06.2020

• Project's team members participated on 19th International Scientific Conference Engineering for Rural Development, 20.–22.05.2020. Jelgava, Latvia.

The paper was published in the conference proceedings «Assessment of Surface Parameters of the Machine Parts» (O. Linins, I. Boiko, A. Leitans, J. Lungevics), Proceedings of 19th International Scientific Conference ENGINEERING FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT, May 20-22, 2020, Jelgava, Latvia, Volume 19, p. 1818-1822, ISSN 1691-5976, DOI: 10.22616/ERDev2020.19.TF488; ABSTRACTED AND INDEXED: Elsevier SCOPUS, Clarivate Analytics Web of Science, AGRIS, CAB Abstracts, CABI full text, EBSCO Academic Search Complete, EBSCO Central & Eastern European Academic Source, Agricola.

01.01.2020–31.03.2020

• Project's logo created at LogoMakr.com
• ​At the International Education Exhibition SCHOOL 2020, which took place at the International Exhibition Centre, Kipsala, from 27.02.2020 to 28.02.2020. At the Riga Technical University informational stand, the interested parties were able to familiarise themselves with the information regarding the commencement of the project, as well as the possibilities for students to participate in the implementation of scientific projects. During the exhibition, information was presented on the launch of this LCS project.

Education Exhibition SCHOOL 2020